Pivoted fluke anchor having multiple cross arms



c. H. PARKS 2,730,984

PIVOTED FLUKE ANCHOR HAVING MULTIPLE CROSS ARMS Jan. 17, 1956 Filed March 12, 195?.

m IT a L m R mm l1 J 1 J P Y 1 n 1mm U NQU m M W r m E H U 1 wi a Wm {M N L w s W w A 2 mg m w .m 5 m mm M I mm Q mm km 3 W mm 3 2 mm 3 United States Patent PIvoTED FLUKE ANCHOR HAVING MULTIPLE CROSS ARMS 7 Charles H. Parks, Southport, Conn. Application March 12, 1952, Serial No. 276,16fi

14 Claims. (Cl. 114208) This invention relates to anchors, and particularly to anchors of the type that employ a shank to which the flukes are pivotally connected. Such anchors are variously referred to as Navy, Danforth, and Stockless, to name a few.

Generally speaking, an anchor should be capable of performing the following functions in order to fulfill the demands to which it is subjected. It should possess as few parts as possible, and be designed to lie as flat as possible when stowed on deck so as not to present a hazard to the crew, or when stowed below or above, not to interfere with other gear; it should be capable of being prepared for use with a minimum of effort; when heaved overboard, it should be of such design as to quickly dig into, and tenaciously hold under various bottom conditions with a minimum of anchor movement along the bottom; its ultimate holding power should be as great as possible for its weight and size; and its design should be such that when once disturbed by changes of tide or direction of wind, it will re-set itself with a minimum of anchor movement along the bottom. While these advantages are attributed in varying degrees to known anchors, all features are not found in any one anchor. Thus, the Yachtsman or Kedge type of anchor digs in very rapidly, but its holding power is low in comparison to its weight. While the Danforth and Navy types of anchors have a higher holding power relatively to their weights, a much greater movement of the anchor alongthe bottom is required to set them properly than is required with a Yachtsman or Kedge type of anchor. The stowability of the Yachtsman and Danforth anchors is about the same. The construction of the Danforth type, which provides good stowable characteristics, limits the angle that can be attained between the flukes and the bottom when the anchor is in working position. To increase the thickness of, the head of the Danforth or Navy type anchors would cause them to become unstable and difficult to secure, as well as increasingly hazardous to the crew when stowed ondeck, interfere with other gear when stowed below or above deck and be generally unwieldy to handle and stow.

. The principal object of this invention is to provide an can readily be operated by a single individual with facil ity; the provision of such an anchor in which the crossarm means is adapted to be rigidly attached to, and movable with the pivotal flukes; the provision of such an anchor that is provided with interlocking means integral with the anchor and arranged so that the cross-arm means in operation is independent of the contractile feature of the apparatus; and the provision of a cross-arm means adapted to be attached to the head of a pivotal fluke anchor in a working and a stowing position with minimum alterations, if any, of the anchor head.

The above, as well as other objects and novel features of the improved anchor and cross-arm means will become evident from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an anchor to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial plan view of the anchor shown in Fig. l, with the cross-arm means shown in its stowable or contractile position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an anchor showing a modification of the invention wherein a cross-arm means is shown attached to the head of a pivotal fluke anchor in working position;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the cross-arm of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the cross-arm of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows 55; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a pivotal fluke anchor disclosing another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a pivotal fluke type of anchor including spaced flukes 10 and 11 that are integrally connected to a head 12. The head 12 may be of varying designs, and is shown in the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 6 as being of substantially different constructions. A crossbar 13 extends through the head 12 and a shank 14 is pivotally connected thereto. The usual eye 15 is provided at the forward end of shank 14 to receive the anchor line.

The construction of the head 12 in the embodiment of Fig. 1 includes a bulbous mass adapted when the anchor rests on the bottom to elevate the ends of the flukes opposite the bills 16 to cause the bills 16 to dig into the bottom. The head 12 includes two sets of aligned, recessed slots 17 and 18 at right angles to each other. The head 12 of Fig. l is not of sufiicient height to cause the bills 16 to dig into the bottom without an excessive movement of the anchor along the bottom. However, the thickness of such heads provides a hazard to the crew when the anchor is stowed on deck, and any increase in the thickness of head 12 to overcome the disadvantage mentioned, increases this hazard manifold. In order to employ a head 12 of non-hazardous proportions and still provide means for elevating it sufficiently to facilitate setting of the anchor with minimum anchor movement along the bottom, a cross-arm 19 is adapted to be attached to head 12 in an operative and inoperative or stowable'position.

Referring to Fig. 2, the cross-arm 19 is shown as of generally channel shape, although it may be of any crosssection that is adequate to cause it to withstand the forces to which it will be subjected. It is provided with a centrally-disposed hole 20 through which a trip stud 21 is screw-threaded or otherwise fastened centrally of the head 12. The stud 21 is ofelongated form with enlarged head 21' forming a tripping eye. A contractile spring 22 surrounds the shank thereof and is confined between the bottom 23 of arm 19 and the head 21', Preferably, the spring 22 is of the spiral type and adapted to be compressed into a thickness equal to that of the wire from which the spring is made.

In order to lock the cross-arm 19 in its contractile or stowing position as well as it working position, it. is necessary to provide interengaging means between arm 19 and head 12. While any suitable interengaging means is contemplated within the scope of the invention, that which is shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 3 includes a 3 pair of spaced lugs .24 that are adapted to interloekwith the recesses 17 and 18 of head 12. With anchor heads having no recesses such as I'Tan d 18, it is obvious that means integral with arm 19 could extend downwardly around the outer surfaces of the anchor head with'equal iacilitye. g., ,the channel .member 19 could be reversely mounted on the stud so that its flanges extend down- .wardly over the head 12. ,Inthe embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the lugs .24 are so spaced that in each'of its positions they intermesh with recesses 17 and 18. The height .of lugs 24 and the movement of arm 19 along the shank of stud 21 is such that upon the complete compression of spring 22, the bottoms of lugs 24 are.only a slight distance above the top of head 12 :with only sufiicient clearance to permit turning arm 19 through 90 between its .stowing and operating positions. The hole in the bot- .tom 23 of arm 19 is large enough to perrnitzsubstantial clearance between it and theshank :of stud .21.

, From the foregoing, it is evident that dragging the anchor along the .bottom will cause the arm 19 to pivot about the pointof engagement between the upper lug 24 and its recess 17 thereby insuring interlocking engage- .ment being .maintained between one of the lugs 24 and its recess 17 at all times, which, with the stud passing through hole 29 in arm 19, maintainssaid arm .at right .angles to flukes it) and 11. Accordingly, spring 22 need be only strong .enough to reseat the lugs 24 in the recesses 1.7 or 18,, and can be relatively light so that a-crew- .mancan set the cross-arm 19 with ease.

Referring to .Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the embodiment isshown as'akit adapted to be applied to an'anchor ofcommon design including a head 25 having the usual slots .26, 27 therein, and provided with a trippingeye 23 integral with .head 25. The kit includes 'a .cross-arm29 similar to arm 19.and is provided with crossed-slots 39 (.Fig. 4) at right angles ,to each other and locatedat thecenter of the bottom 31 of the cross-arm 29. The width of'slots 30 is .such that the eye 23 freelypasses therethrough as shown in Fig. 3, thus providing intermeshing means preventing the turning of arm 29 about .eye 28. The bottom 31 of arm 29 also may, if desired, include depending lugs 32 or other depending structure adapted to intermesn with-recesses 2,6, 27 or. other constructionalteatures of the head .25, although such latter construction may vnot be essential when the form of attachment includes the eye 28 and the crossed-slot construction 36 as above noted.

The cross-arm 29 ,is adapted to be locked-tothe head 25 by a key 33 having a hole. at each end thereof through which the stay arm of snap-hooks 34 are adapted topass. Each snap-hook 34- is fast to a shortline 35 and 36, the opposite ends .of which lines are fast .toeyes .37 ,fixed to .the "bottom 310i the cross-arm 29. it is obvious that .Othehmeans may be employed to secure cross-arm 29 to head 25.

. From the .ioregoing, it is evident that the cross-arm 29 can easily be attached and locked to the head 25in either its working or stowing position without requiring theflresiliently actuated construction shown in Figs. 1

and 2.

Referring to Figr6, still another embodiment of the invention is disclosed wherein'the head is made up of two inclined plates 38, 39 which are attached to the crossbar 40 and flukes 41, 42 .so that the assembly moves as a unit. The shank 43 is pivoted to the arm 40 in the a usual manner.

.The inclined plate 38 is provided with an, elongated slot 44, and the plate 39 is provided witha circular hole :somewhat larger than the diameter of an auxiliary cross-arm 46 of the type commonlyemployed with a Yacht sman type of anchor. The hole 45 and slot 44 are so aligned that the cross-arm 46 can be moved in a .plane at right angles to that including cross-arm 40 when the usual pin 46' is withdrawnfrom arm .46. 'In arrang- 4 v 39, when arm 46 is rotated through 180. 'In this new position it is evident that thetop portion of arm 46 can be moved toward shank 43 by virtue of the length of slot 44, and the fact that the portion of arm 46 will then pass upwardly (Fig. 6) through the hole 45. Accordingly, the arm 46 has two positions as do the arms 19 and 29, one for effective operative action, and the other for stowing position. Of course, :the circular hole 45 must be large enough to accommodate the curved portion of the auxiliary cross-arm 46' that joins portion 47 thereto when the arm 46 is moved'to stowing position.

Although the various featuresof the improved anchor cross-arm have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose three embodiments of the invention, it will be evident that numerous changesmay .be made in such details, and certain features may be used without others, without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is: l. Inan anchor having ahead; .a cross-armattachedto said head; a shankpivotally attached to said cross'rarm; .fiukesattached to said :head and disposed on each side of said shank; interlockable means integral withsaid head;

an auxiliary cross-arm having interlockable means ,'in-

tegral with .it and adapted .to be attached to stiiltl head .with both said interlockable means in cooperating .reilationship withsaid auxiliary arm in one of .two planes at substantially right angles to each other, one" of'said planessubstantially including said flukes and Shank when said anchorjs instowable conditiomand.releasablegmeans .for holding .said auxiliary crossfarm .in either of said planes with said -interlockable means effective.

2. ,A cross-bar foran .anchor of the type hav n a shank, a head with interlockable means integral there. with .in planes at right angles to each other and fluke means .pivotally connected to said shank, said cross bfar having .interlockable means -.integral with it, and adapted to eflect-an interlocking engagement with the interlockable means on the head of said anchonin plane's atrig'ht angles toeachotherand one of whichplanes includes said nuke means; and means for releasably connectingsaid crossbar .to saidrhead ineitherof said planes. 1 .7 t j 3 An .anchor comprising in combination, a head; a shank; apivotallinkbetween said head and shank; 'flukes connected to said head; :a stowable cross-arm attached .to

. ,said head .and adapted to be, located in planes .atrfight angles to each other for operationand stowing condi ,anchor'that is adapted to cooperate in turn with said sun .facesiorlocking said cross-arm to said anchorfinplanes .at right angles to each other.v

.-5.' anchor cornprising in cornbination aheadjhaving fluke means attached thereto; a shank; a pivotal connection bet-ween said shank and I said head; rno'tion 7 ilim'it'ingme'ans between said shank and fluke means for limiting the pivotal action of ,said'shank 'to a predetermined acute angle on each side of the plane jincluding ,said fluke means; a stud rigidly attached to saidhead; 6 .a (cross-bar jpivotally mounted on said stud; mjeanson .saidjc'rossbar adapted to cooperatewith means on said headinplanes lat'right angles to-each other for rigidly ing the anchor for stowing conditions, this movement is eflected until the portion 47 of arm 46 contacts plate holding said, cross-bar in the plane including 'sa'id fluke meang as well as in a plane at right anglesthereto;

and resilient means between said cross bar and'th'ehead of said stud to resiliently holdsaid "cross-bar incither of its two positions.

*6. An anchor comprising in combination, ahead; a

shank 'pivotally con-nected to said "head fiukes attached to "said, head on each side of said shank; a cross bar adapted to be pivotally mounted on said head adjacent the pivotal connection between said head and shank, whereby it can be turned from a plane including said fiukes to a plane at substantially right angles thereto; intermeshing means between said cross-bar and said head for rigidly holding said cross-bar in either of said planes; and resilient means between said cross-bar and head adapted to be manually overcome for maintaining said cross-bar in said intermeshing relation.

7. An anchor comprising in combination, a head; a shank pivotally connected to said head; flukes connected to said head; means between said shank and flukes for limiting the relative pivotal movement to a predetermined acute angle on each side of the plane containing said flukes; a cross-bar connected to said head; means between said cross-bar and said head in planes at right angles to each other for providing an interlocking connection between said cross-bar and head with said crossbar in a plane including said flukes, as Well as in a plane at substantially right angles thereto; and resilient means between said head and cross-bar for maintaining said cross-bar in interlocking engagement with said head in either of said planes.

8. A cross-arm for an anchor comprising a generally channel-shaped member; means integral with, and located centrally of said member and providing surfaces extending through the bottom wall of said channel-shaped member and lying along intersecting lines at right angles to each other; and means attached to said channel-shaped member adapted to cooperate with a constructional feature of an anchor that is adapted to cooperate in turn with said surfaces for locking said cross-arm to said anchor in planes at right angles to each other.

9. In an anchor having a head including a tripping eye; a shank pivotally connected to said head; flukes attached to said head on opposite sides of said shank; a cross-arm including a body member having crossed slots extending through one wall thereof at right angles to each other, and of such size as to receive said tripping eye with said cross-arm in either one of two planes at right angles to each other; and means fixed to said crossarm for cooperation with said eye to retain said crossarm in either of said planes.

10. In an anchor having a head; a shank pivotally connected to said head; flukes attached to said head on opposite sides of said shank; a cross-arm including a body member connected to said head; means forming part of said body member and adapted to interlock with constructional features of said head in planes at right angles to each other, whereby said cross-arm can be interlocked to said head in either one of two positions 90 disposed to each other; and means fixed to said body member for releasably connecting said cross-arm to said head in either one of said two positions.

11. An anchor comprising in combination, a head; a shank pivotally connected thereto; flukes attached to said head and disposed on opposite sides of said shank; cross-arm means connected to said head and lying at all times within the plane including said flukes; an

auxiliary cross-arm extending through said head and having a portion at right angles to another portion thereof; a passage through said head for receiving said auxiliary cross-arm, said passage having a dimension at one end thereof somewhat larger than the thickness of said cross-bar, and at the other end thereof elongated sutficiently to effect movement of said auxiliary cross arm from a plane at right angles to said flukes, to a plane substantially including said flukes when the anchor is adjusted from working to stowing position.

12. An anchor comprising in combination, a head; fluke means fixed to said head; a shank pivotally connected to said head; a cross-arm connected to said head; an auxiliary cross-arm connected to said head; means forming part of said head adapted to cooperate with said auxiliary cross-arm to efiect locating said auxiliary crossarm in planes at right angles to each other, one of said planes being at right angles to the plane including said fluke means; and means for releasably fixing said auxiliary cross-arm to said head in at least one of said planes.

13. In an anchor having a head, a shank pivotally connected to said head; fiukes attached to said head; cross-arm means connected to said head and lying at all times within the plane including said flukes; auxiliary cross-arm means connected to said head, and adapted to be located in planes at right angles to each other for operation and stowing conditions, one of said planes including said flukes and cross-arm means; and means for releasably fixing said auxiliary cross-arm means in at least one of said planes.

14. A pivotal-fluke type of anchor comprising in combination, a head element; flukes integral with, and extending outwardly from said head element; a cross-bar attached to said head element and extending laterally relatively to said flukes; a shank pivotally connected to said head element on said cross-bar; interlockable means integral with said head element; an auxiliary cross-bar adapted to be connected to said head in the plane including said first-mentioned cross-bar as well as in a plane at substantially right angles to said plane; interlockable means integral with said auxiliary cross-bar adapted to cooperate with the interlockable means of said head element; and means for maintaining the interlockable means on said head element and on said auxiliary cross arm in cooperating relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,011,622 Jackson Dec. 12, 1911 1,028,673 Butters June 4, 1912 2,007,667 Stubbs July 9, 1935 2,170,889 Allin Aug. 29, 1939 2,279,302 Craig Apr. 14, 1942 2,359,538 Wilson Oct. 3, 1944 2,526,214 Faraone Oct. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,752 Great Britain July 6, 1909 

